According to Vanguard, Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has emphasized that Nigerians should not be impoverished, given the nation’s abundant resources.
He stated that while the country is richly endowed, its people are suffering due to poor management of these resources.
Obasanjo made these remarks during a dinner hosted in his honor by the Abia Government at the Government House in Umuahia on Friday.
He expressed that poverty should not be a reality for Nigerians because the nation is blessed with everything it needs.
He stated, “Nigerians should not be experiencing poverty because God has provided us with everything we need. If we fail to properly manage what God has entrusted to us, we have no one to blame but ourselves.”
This statement reflects his belief that the root cause of the nation’s challenges lies in the misuse of its vast potential rather than a lack of resources.
Obasanjo took the opportunity to commend the leadership of Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, praising his efforts to transform the state and the widespread public recognition of his administration’s achievements.
He encouraged the governor to continue his good work, adding that the positive impact of leadership is crucial.
He suggested that if Nigeria had 18 governors performing as effectively as Otti, the country would see substantial development.
The former president reiterated his ongoing concern for the well-being of Nigerians and the quality of governance they receive.
He emphasized that, regardless of personal interactions, the most important factor for him was ensuring that Nigerians receive good governance.
“For me, whether you don’t greet me or I greet you and you don’t answer, what is important to me is that the people of this country are getting what they deserve and what they deserve is good governance,” he stated, underscoring the centrality of effective leadership to national progress.
Obasanjo also reflected on a piece of advice he had given to former Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, during his time in office.
According to Obasanjo, Amaechi was unaware of an existing national railway development plan and was directed to the archives to locate it.
He remarked, “I believe that even if you don’t like me if I have pieces of advice to give you, as I did when you were Minister for Transport, I will give the advice.”
This illustrates Obasanjo’s commitment to sharing knowledge and offering guidance, regardless of personal feelings.
Governor Otti, in his speech, expressed gratitude for the support he received from Obasanjo, acknowledging the former president’s influence on his leadership journey.
Otti reflected on the challenges he faced during his decade-long political career, especially the difficulties encountered in the elections.
He recounted that, despite winning two elections between 2015 and 2019, the results were stolen.
He noted that many had lost hope in his political aspirations, but he remained steadfast, convinced that his vision was clear and that he had received divine direction.
“Once you have vision, you have to keep to it. It took us ten years to get here, the two elections we contested from 2015 to 2019, we won clearly but they were all stolen. A lot of people had given up hope and said it wasn’t going to work, but I was sure that I heard clearly from God,” he shared.
This reflects the governor’s perseverance and belief in the importance of a clear vision for successful leadership.
You Can Get More News Using The Button Below.